Daily Current Affairs Notes for 22 September 2022

‘2022 UN Interagency Task Force, and WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care Award’ was conferred to India for its India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI).

Overiew

• The UN award was conferred at the UN General Assembly side event that was held on September 21, 2022 in New York.
• The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) is a joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), state governments and World Health Organization-India.
• It was launched in 2017 and expanded in a phased manner to cover more than 130 districts across 23 states in India.
• It was given recognition for its ability to prevent and control non-communicable diseases and delivering integrated people-centric primary care.
• The initiative controlled hypertension at the primary healthcare system level, minimising the deaths caused by heart attacks, stroke and kidney failures.
• Under this initiative, existing healthcare delivery system was strengthened and steps were taken to improve interventions under National Health Mission.
• Under this initiative, more than 34 lakh people with hypertension were treated in government health facilities like Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centres (HWCs).
• The initiative covered simple drug-dose-specific standard treatment protocol, providing sufficient quantity of protocol medications, decentralization of care with follow-ups and refills of medicines in health wellness centres etc.
• Data was collected to keep track of patients to control their blood pressure and maintain follow-ups.
• Under this initiative, nearly 50 per cent of those who were treated had blood pressure under control.
• This initiative complements the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) implemented by the Union Health Ministry.

About hypertension

• Hypertension is a health condition caused when the force of blood against the artery walls is high. While it is asymptomatic, it can cause conditions like heart disease and stroke if left untreated. It can be prevented through the consumption of healthier diet with less salt, regular exercise and medication.

8 IITs to have directors: The appointments of Directors of eight Indian Institutes of Technology have been approved by President Droupadi Murmu (IITs).

Overview

8 IITs to have directors: The appointments of Directors of eight Indian Institutes of Technology have been approved by President Droupadi Murmu (IITs). Seshadri Sekhar, an IIT, Madras professor, has been named the new director of IIT, Palakkad, while Shreepad Karmalkar, another IIT, Madras professor, will take over as the new director of IIT, Bhubaneshwar.

8 IITs to have directors: Key Points

• Venkayappaya R. Desai of IIT, Kharagpur has been named the director of IIT, Dharwad, and Pasumarthy Seshu of IIT, Dharwad has been assigned the role of director of IIT, Goa.
• Rajat Moona, the director of IIT, Bhilai, has been appointed to lead IIT, Gandhinagar.
• K. N. Satyanarayana, Rajiv Prakash, and Manoj Singh Gaur will be the directors of the IITs in Tirupati, Bhilai, and Jammu, respectively.
• Rajat Moona, the director of IIT Bhilai, has been chosen to lead IIT Gandhinagar, while Pasumarthy Seshu, the director of IIT Dharwad, has been picked to lead IIT Goa. Directors of two IITs have been appointed to the top position at various IITs.
• The two IIT directors that were reappointed for a second term are Manoj Singh Gaur and K N Satyanarayana (IIT Tirupati) (IIT Jammu).
• IIT Madras professors Shreepad Karmalkar and Seshadri Sekhar have been selected to lead IIT Palakkad and IIT Bhubaneshwar, respectively.

New IITs to be made:

• Last year, applications were invited for six of the new IITs, which would be located in Dharwad, Goa, Palakkad, Jammu, Bhilai, and Tirupati.
• According to the job posting that was published on October 18, the candidate should have a Ph.D. with a first class or equivalent at their previous degree, ideally in a field of engineering.
• IIT Bhubaneswar has been without a full-time director since April 2020, when R V Rajakumar’s five-year term as director came to an end.

INS Ajay was decommissioned after rendering 32 years of service to the nation.The decommissioning of INS Ajay was conducted at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in Traditional manner.

Overview

INS Ajay was decommissioned after rendering 32 years of service to the nation. The decommissioning of INS Ajay was conducted at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in the traditional manner. The national flag, naval ensign, and the decommissioned pennant of the ship were lowered for the last time at sunset, signifying the end of the ship’s commissioned service.

The chief guest for the function was Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. The guest of Honour was Vice Admiral AG Thapliyal AVSM Bar (Retd), the first commanding officer of the ship.

Key Points related to decommissioning of INS Ajay

• INS Ajay was commissioned on 24th January 1990 at Poti, Georgia in the erstwhile USSR, and was part of the 23rd Patrol Vessel Squadron under the operation control of Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra.
• The INS Ajay was in active naval service for more than 32 years during her illustrious journey.
• INS Ajay has participated in several naval operations including Op Talwar during Kargil War and Op Parakram in 2001.
• The decommissioning ceremony of INS Ajay was attended by over 400 personnel including Flag Officers, Senior officers from the Army, IAF, and CG, Officers, and men of the Commissioning crew, crew of previous commissions as well as the ship’s present crew, and families.

National logistics policy 2022: PM Modi turned 72. To mark the occasion, he welcomed eight cheetahs from Namibia and unveiled India's National Logistics Policy 2022.

Overview

National logistics policy 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 72. To mark the occasion, he welcomed eight cheetahs that had been transported to India from Namibia and unveiled India’s National Logistics Policy 2022. According to Piyush Goyal, minister of commerce and industry, the National logistics policy 2022’s primary goal is to encourage the free flow of commodities and raise the competitiveness of the sector throughout the country. Process re-engineering, digitization, and multi-modal transportation will be some of the primary areas of emphasis.

National logistics policy 2022: Key Points

• The road, rail, customs, aviation, international trade, and commerce ministries are among the seven departments whose 30 distinct systems will be digitally integrated as part of the IDS.
• The shorter cargo movement will be improved.
• ULIP, or the Unified Logistics Interface Platform, will facilitate easy cargo transfer.
• There will be Ease of Logistics (ELOG) present. The policy will be put into place to streamline the regulations and make the logistics industry easier.
• The System Improvement Group (SIG) is tasked with periodically assessing all logistics-related projects and removing any barriers.
• The goal of the policy is to give young people opportunity to work and develop their talents.

Jio Cinema's OTT merger with Viacom18: The merger of Jio Cinema OTT and Viacom18 Media received approval from fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Overview

Jio Cinema’s OTT merger with Viacom18: The merger of Jio Cinema OTT and Viacom18 Media received approval from fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI). The CCI announced in a tweet on Monday that, following investments from BTS Investment and Reliance Projects & Property Management Services, it has approved the merger of the Jio Cinema OTT platform with Viacom18 Media.

Jio Cinema’s OTT merger with Viacom18: Key Points

• Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) and Viacom18 announced a strategic partnership with Bodhi Tree Systems in April.
• Bodhi Tree to invest Rs 13,500 crore in Viacom18, and Reliance Projects & Property Management Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RIL, will invest Rs 1,645 crore in the broadcaster as part of the tripartite partnership, creating one of the largest TV and digital streaming firms in India.
• Reliance’s well-liked Jio Cinema OTT app will be moved to Viacom18 as part of the cooperation.
• IT support services are provided by Reliance Projects & Property Management Services. Through its roster of channels and streaming service “Voot,” Viacom18 Media engages in the business of offering media and entertainment services.
• Deals beyond a specific threshold need regulator permission, which maintains an eye on unethical commercial activities in the marketplace.